Archival copy: for current recommendations see http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu or your local extension office.
FCS 2116
Adolescence: What is It?1
Daniel F. Perkins2
Adolescents are young people who straddle the
fence between childhood and adulthood. They have
one foot secured in childhood and one foot moving
into the world of adulthood.
It is a unique period of the life span. In fact, no
developmental period, other than infancy, is
characterized by so many changes. Complex changes
are marked by very fast growth. Those changes
include:
physical growth;
3. What are the
adolescents?
developmental
tasks
facing
The information in this series provides a "road
map" of what to expect from adolescents. Using this
road map, parents and other adults can determine
whether adolescents are reaching their destinations;
or whether they have detoured and need extra
support and intervention to get them back on track.
This series also provides information about
communication.
Positive interactions with your
adolescent can enhance his or her development.
the rise of reproductive sexuality;
new social roles;
Parents and adults who work with adolescents
must remain sensitive to adolescents’ individual needs,
because they develop at varying rates.
growth in thinking, feeling, and morals;
WHAT IS ADOLESCENCE?
and school transitions.
This is the first of a three-part series of bulletins
which explores adolescence. They are divided into
major questions:
1. What is adolescence? and What are the biological
changes that occur during adolescence?
2. What are the major questions facing adolescents?
Adolescence begins with biological maturation
(puberty), when young people must accomplish
developmental tasks and develop self-identity. It ends
when they achieve self-sufficient adulthood as defined
by society.
Adolescence has
adolescence, middle
adolescence.
three substages, early
adolescence, and late
1.
This document is Fact Sheet FCS 2116, a series of the Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, Florida Cooperative Extension
Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Publication date: April 1997.
2.
Daniel F. Perkins, assistant professor, Human Resource Development, Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, Cooperative
Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville FL 32611. Appreciation is given to Suzanna
Smith, associate professor, Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences; Meredith C. Taylor, Family and Consumer Science Program
Leader, Suwannee County Cooperative Extension Serivce, and Jillian Lillibridge, Human Resource Development undergraduate for their review
and helpful feedback.
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer authorized to provide research, educational
information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap, or national
origin. For information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension Service office.
Florida Cooperative Extension Service/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences/University of Florida/Christine Taylor Waddill, Dean
Archival copy: for current recommendations see http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu or your local extension office.
Adolescence: What is It?
In early adolescence, between 10 and 14 years of
age, adolescents are moving from elementary school
to middle or junior high school. Middle adolescence
is between the ages 15 and 17 and late adolescence
from age 18 to the early twenties.
Late adolescence seems to be extending further
into the early twenties. This is especially true for
those adolescents who cannot support themselves
financially after high school.
Here, we group middle and late adolescents
together and refer to them as late adolescents. The
difference between early and late adolescence can be
illustrated by comparing 11- and 12-year-olds with 17and 18-year-olds.
Early adolescents are barely out of childhood.
Much like younger children, they still need special
nurturing and protection. Late adolescents, on the
other hand, share many attributes of adults.
These two groups have very little in common with
each other, and their needs and abilities differ.
Parents and other adults who work with them need to
be aware of these differences in order to provide the
support necessary for healthy adolescent development.
WHAT ARE THE BIOLOGICAL AND
PHYSICAL CHANGES IN ADOLESCENCE?
Page 2
Sexual dimorphism — the physical differences
between men and women such as height, weight, body
proportions and reproductive systems — occurs
during puberty.
Sex hormones increase, specifically estrogens
increase in girls and androgens increase in boys. Due
to higher levels of androgens in their system, boys
generally suffer more acne and odor problems than
girls. At approximately age 15 for girls and ages 16
to 17 for boys, hormone production levels off.
Early adolescent girls (10- to 14-years-old)
experience:
onset of menstruation on average at age 12½
a growth spurt of approximately 8 to 10
inches
weight gain and an increase in muscular
development
change of body portions change — hips
widen
development of breast buds and pubic hair
Middle adolescent girls (14- to 17-years-old)
experience:
The completion of biological and physical
development associated with adolescence seems to
occur earlier now than in the past — two years
earlier than in the year of 1900.
full expression
characteristics
Puberty, which signals of the beginning of
adolescence, is a developmental process which takes
about two to four years to complete.
development of sweat glands and oil glands
(acne or odors)
Puberty usually begins two years earlier for girls
than for boys; and, girls are generally taller than boys
their age until around age fourteen when boys are
generally taller.
The events most closely associated with puberty,
menstruation in girls and ejaculation in boys, actually
occur approximately midway in the developmental
process. Girls are generally 12½ years old at the
onset of menstruation (menarche). Boys are on
average 13 years of age at first ejaculation. It is
important to remember that ages can vary.
of
secondary
physical
full development of breasts
Early and middle adolescent boys (12- to 16years-old) experience:
a growth spurt of approximately 12 to 13
inches
weight gain and an increase in muscular
development
changes in body proportions — shoulders
broaden
development of pubic hair
Archival copy: for current recommendations see http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu or your local extension office.
Adolescence: What is It?
Middle adolescent and late adolescent boys (16to 20-years-old) experience:
full expression of secondary characteristics
development of facial hair
development of sweat glands and oil glands
(acne or odors)
Page 3
RESOURCES
Vernon, A. & Al-Mabuk, R. H. (1995). What growing
up is all about: A parent’s guide to child and
adolescent development. Champaign, IL: Research
Press.
Lerner, R. M., & Galambos, N. L. (Eds.) (1984).
Experiencing adolescents: A sourcebook for parents
teachers, and teens. New York: Teachers College.
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
Adolescence is a complex period in the life span
marked by a multitude of changes. These changes
make adolescence an exciting, as well as awkward,
time in one’s life. Adolescents often are easily
embarrassed and may be uncomfortable with childish
routines, such as kissing parents good night. As
parents and adults who interact with adolescents, it is
important to know about the normal changes and
behaviors of adolescents. Awareness of these facts,
enables parents and adults to support them better.
While adolescents may look like adults, we know
that they are not. They need time and opportunities
to understand themselves, their new bodies, new roles,
and new relationships.
Parents and adults need to expect ambiguity,
searching and uncertainty when interacting with
adolescents.
They need to spend time with
adolescents and, at the same time, respect their
privacy. Through example and guidance, parents and
adults can have a positive impact on the lives of
adolescents.
The first bulletin of this three part series has only
begun to show the complexity of the changes that
confront individuals beginning their second decade of
life.
The next two bulletins will provide more
information about the intellectual and emotional
changes that occur in adolescence.
Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development (1995).
Great transitions: Preparing adolescents for a new
century. New York: Carnegie Corporation.
Cobb, N. J. (1994). Adolescence: Continuity, change,
and diversity. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield
Publishing.
Hamburg, B. (1974). Early adolescence: A specific
and stressful stage of the life cycle. In G. Coehol,
D. A. Hamburg, & J. E. Adams (Eds.), Coping
and adaptation (pp. 101-125). New York: Basic
Books.
Lerner, R. M. (1995). America’s youth in crisis:
Challenges and options for programs and policies.
Thousand Oak, CA: Sage.
Petersen, A. C. (1987). The nature of biologicalpsychological interaction: The sample case of
early adolescence. In R. M. Lerner & T. T. Foch
(Eds.), Biological-psychosocial interactions in early
adolescence: A life-span perspective (pp. 35-62).
Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Simmons, R. G., & Blyth, D. A. (1987). Moving into
adolescence: The impact of pubertal change and
school context. New York: Aldine DeGruyter.